NBC Sports’ two local sports cable channels were already booked by the 76ers and Flyers on April 3GETTY IMAGES
NBC Sports Philadelphia on April 3 will "broadcast a Phillies game exclusively online and not on television" for the first time, according to Jonathan Tannenwald of the PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER. The game against the Mets will "only be available through the network’s website and mobile apps." Mets-Phillies begins at 7:10pm ET that night, and the 76ers and Flyers "both play at the same hour." NBC Sports Philly’s two local sports cable channels were "already booked" with the NBA and NHL games. NBC Sports Philadelphia President & GM Brian Monihan said that there was talk of putting the Phillies game on WCAU-NBC, which "broadcasts some weekday afternoon and weekend night games over the air." However, NBC is airing a new edition of "The Voice" that night, and "that gets priority." Monihan: “We felt like it was a good chance to try out this platform. We know that while streaming has gotten easier, we’re going to be very active leading up to this game letting everybody know how they can watch.” The Phillies game will be "kept behind" the RSN's TV provider authentication wall. Monihan said that MLB "does not allow local outlets to stream games online without an authentication wall." The game will be available on SNY in the N.Y. area (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 3/23).
YOU HAVE BEEN CHOSEN: In St. Louis, Dan Caesar notes Brewers-Cardinals on April 11 "has been selected" by MLB as one of the 25 weekday games to be streamed exclusively on Facebook Watch. A source said that there is a "good chance" another Cardinals game, "probably in the latter half of May, will be added." There also could be "one more later" in the season. There will be "no traditional telecasts" of the Facebook Watch contests. That means the April game is "believed to be the first time in nearly a decade to the day that a Cardinals game will not be televised in St. Louis" (STLTODAY.com, 3/23).
